How To Responsibly Share Information About Coronavirus On Social Media

Social media can be an incredible force for good in the world, keeping people connected and informed like never before. It can also be a breeding ground for misinformation and hoaxes, though, and during a time like the coronavirus pandemic, it is more important than ever to practice responsible information sharing.

Whether you have 100 followers or 1 million, the information you share on social media can have a powerful impact on viewers. We encourage those with social media followings to use their influence as a way to educate audiences about coronavirus, best practices, and ways to give back. But before you hit “share” you should always double check to make sure that the information you are sharing is verified and true. You can even check out the World Health Organization’s breakdown of some prevalent coronavirus myths! (And believe us, there are a lot of myths out there.)

FYI, we’re talking about this in the context of coronavirus, but these are good guidelines to follow whenever you are sharing or reposting news.

Here are a few questions you can ask to ensure that the information you share is verified and accurate:

What is the source of this information?

Before you share any statistic, graph, or other information, you should always look at where the information is coming from. Verified information will have sources backing it up. Someone stating “I heard…” is not enough. If the content you come across (say, a graphic reposted to Instagram) doesn’t have the source listed, a quick Google search can help you double check if the information is true.

Still not sure? It’s best to stick to trusted news sources. The CDC and WHO provide a wealth of information and resources that will keep you and your followers informed with latest updates and helpful guidelines on staying healthy and limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Bottom line: If you aren’t sure what the source is, or if the source isn’t a trusted media or health organization, don’t share it.

What data is backing this information?

Understandably, there is a lot of fear mongering and uncertainty during this pandemic, and even reliable news stations sometimes fall prey to misinformation. Media outlets can tend to use dramatic statements or over-generalizations to talk about a spreading disease like coronavirus, but that language should be backed up by statistics and data as well. If it isn’t, you shouldn’t be repeating that information.

Bottom line: Cite verified statistics and data from trusted news sources and organizations instead of sweeping statements.

Do thousands of reposts instantly mean it’s true?

Short answer: of course not!

Fake news stories go viral all the time, and unfortunately a lot of people like to take advantage of major news stories like coronavirus. They can range from the innocent, like this popular video of people singing together during quarantine that has been re-edited with dozens of different songs, to the blatantly untrue, like this popular Facebook post (which now comes with a “False Information” warning) stating hand sanitizer is not effective against coronavirus.

Again, you should always look at the source and run your own fact check.

Bottom line: Likes do not equal verity!

How does this information benefit your audience?

At the end of the day, before hitting the “share” button, ask yourself: how does this information benefit my followers? If you are sharing important information, updates on store closures, tips on how to stay healthy, or positivity and ways to stay busy through social distancing, good! Post away!

If you feel inclined to re-share information that is spreading fear, however, you may want to take a step back and ask yourself what the benefits are. It is important to keep people informed, but again, fear mongering is typically not the best course of action to spread awareness.

Bottom line: Spread information and helpful tips, not fear.